How I feel emotions without feeling them

It is such non-sense right? How can I feel emotions without feeling them? It makes no sense and I agree with you. I cannot make sense of it either, maybe because it's me, therefore it's too up close and personal, maybe it's because I'm crazy or something... Craziness is more often than not subjective to each and everyone, isn't it? Anyways, I'll try my best to describe it in this article. I know it might not make sense to you, but feelings and emotions are subjective too.

Do I feel emotions?

Yes, I do feel emotions but no I don't feel them like a typical person would. I will dive into the reasons behind it in the next paragraphs but yes I feel emotions, I have feelings, I feel things... I just often struggle to experience emotions in the same way that others do. While I can recognise that certain situations should elicit an emotional response, I often don't feel those emotions as strongly or as viscerally as others might.

For example, if I hear about a sad event on the news, I might understand that it's a tragic situation and that others are feeling grief or sorrow in response to it. However, I don't necessarily feel that sadness myself in the same way that others might. Instead, I might feel a more muted sense of concern or sympathy, or I might experience the situation as an abstract concept rather than a concrete emotional experience.

This can be challenging in social situations, as emotions are a key part of connecting with others. When someone shares a personal story with me that elicits a strong emotional response, I may struggle to empathize with them in the same way that others might. I might know that I should feel sadness or anger on their behalf, but I don't necessarily experience those emotions in the same way that they do.

It is just more Intellectual than Visceral...

Overall, it's possible to develop strategies to better connect with others and manage emotions. For me, this has involved recognizing and accepting the differences in my emotional experience, while still finding ways to connect with others in meaningful ways.

When it is more personal...

I experience emotions differently than neurotypical individuals. While emotions are often seen as a natural and spontaneous response to a given situation, for me, they can be confusing and overwhelming. One of the key differences in how I experience emotions is that I tend to have a more delayed reaction to them. When something happens that might elicit an emotional response, I may not feel anything right away. Instead, I need time to process the situation, think about what happened, and try to understand what I'm feeling.

In addition to this delayed response, I often struggle to recognise and label them. For example, I might feel a general sense of discomfort or unease without knowing exactly what I'm feeling or why. This can make it difficult to communicate with others about what's going on, which can lead to misunderstandings or confusion. However, I truly care about how people around me feel. I love seeing them happy, I will always there for them and do everything to help. I don't treat emotions of people I care like I do with mine, don't worry!

How I feel about it all

I never realized it until I was in my twenties. I knew I was different in some ways, well, lots of ways, but never knew that ''that'' was not normal, or typical... So I worked my butt off to learn more about it, more about how others were, more about me. It all made sense, my whole life made sense right then and there!

I suffered deeply throughout my life because of it all. The irony.

I accept myself the way I am and I now develop other ways to connect and communicate with people. It is something I cannot change, but it is also something that can always be improved and that I can always learn from... I learn all the time! At times, this can make me feel disconnected from others or like I'm missing something important in my emotional experience. However, I've learned to work with this challenge by developing other ways of connecting with others and showing support. For example, I might ask questions to better understand the other person's perspective or offer practical help or solutions instead of emotional support.

It is also a plus in social relations because I never get into arguments and fights... There are no reasons! I would rather take time to listen to the other's point of view and see their perspectives. It also allows me to see where I was wrong, where our differences are and based on the relationship I have with this person, build from there.

In Conclusion

My different brain doesn't make me a victim. It does make me different I guess... but so is everyone! One of the most important things I've learned is that it's okay to feel emotions differently than other people. While it can be challenging at times, it's also an opportunity to explore my own unique experience of the world and to find ways to connect with others who share similar experiences.

I will never ask anyone to understand me (I would be glad if someone does), but I will always make sure to try my best to understand them. It will always and forever be a work in progress, and I believe that working on ourselves is the greatest work and a work of a lifetime.